Kai Chase, personal chef to late Michael Jackson, says first hint of problem on day of star's death was when doctor didn't fetch granola with almond milk, juice for singer's usual breakfast. Chef, who comes from show-business family, said star's focus was on fresh, healthy food for him and children, and that family often ate lunch, dinner together. She says he told her, 'You have to take care of me,' because he was in training for London shows.

By Linda Deutsch

The Associated Press; The Baltimore Sun 2009-07-29

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Artisan Producers

Obituary: Emilio Lavazza, coffee magnate

By Margherita Stancati

The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2010-02-19

Veteran waiter makes it look easy at D.C.'s venerable Palm restaurant

By Steve Hendrix

The Washington Post 2010-01-12

Reinventing classic foods drives American tastemaker

scharffenberger.com

From wine to chocolate, and now, with plans to create a homegrown version of highly regarded jamón ibérico, or Iberian ham, John Scharffenberger's goal is consistent: personal enjoyment. 'I try to get things that I like, figure out how they're made, and make them,' he says. And because, with pork, he can't compete on price with factory farms, there's emphasis on story - flavor, romantic origins, acorn feeding, old-fashioned livestock-raising, traditional curing. And: Diners, businesspeople appreciate his emphasis on quality (click 'See also').

By Arthur Lubow

Inc. 2009-05-01

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"Food-integrity and humane-handling whistleblowers should not have to rely on an undercover video investigation in order for USDA supervisors to take their disclosures seriously."

Authors

Sustainable agriculture his goal, says 'Just Food' author

James E. McWilliams, author of provocative book on locavore movement, says in Q&A that everything required for sustainable food system is irrelevant without major reduction in meat consumption. He buys organic but worries about lower yields, toxic chemicals. Still a locavore, he says he's no longer dismissive of properly and responsibly employed genetically modified crops - drought resistant cassava, blight resistant rice. Problem with agribusiness isn't size but monoculture. His advice? Make vast majority of what you buy fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts.

By Grant Butler

The Oregonian 2009-09-29

Ruth Reichl, moving forward without Gourmet magazine

Ruth Reichl, editor of the late Gourmet, which she'd whipped into the 21st century with serious and adventurous food journalism, offers a chin-up try on comporting oneself after being unhorsed during victory lap. At a book-tour stop, she regales Philadelphia crowd; later, cookbooks sold like hotcakes (while gossip flowed like hot syrup). And: Gourmet magazine will be remembered more for its recipes, intelligence, and bold roads traveled than for succulence, ingenuity of prose - David Foster Wallace's 2004 'Consider the Lobster' a rare exception (click 'See also').

By Rick Nichols

The Philadelphia Inquirer 2009-10-29

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Kiddie cuisine book controversy

Rerun of Oprah Winfrey show pushes one cookbook higher in sales, but boosts another to the top of the Amazon list - and renews controversy. Missy Chase Lapine, author of 'The Sneaky Chef,' says that a later book, 'Deceptively Delicious,' by Jessica Seinfeld (wife of the comedian, Jerry), is in violation of copyright.

By Julie Bosman

The New York Times 2008-07-12

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Chefs

Mario Batali at work on menus for six new restaurants at Eataly, the massive Italian food emporium opening in New York

By Josh Ozersky

Time magazine 2010-02-23

If number of meals served daily is benchmark, then McDonald's CIA-trained chef Daniel Coudreaut is No. 1

By John Cloud

Time magazine 2010-02-22

Grocer, activist chef join forces for better school lunches

chefann.com

Whole Foods Market joins Ann Cooper, chef, to improve school lunches. 'This is the social justice issue of our time, and schools have no money to help solve the problem,' says Renegade Lunch Lady. Co-president of upscale grocery store, chef plan to go to Washington to try to persuade lawmakers to improve the federal school meals programs in Child Nutrition Act, up for renewal this fall.

By Mary MacVean

Los Angeles Times 2009-08-13

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Farmers

Urban farmer, activist grows power with worms, aquaponics

growingpower.org

To Will Allen, founder of Growing Power, local isn't rolling pasture or suburban garden: It's 14 greenhouses of worm composting and aquaponics crammed onto two acres in working-class neighborhood. Company isn't self-sufficient, but neither is industrial agriculture. Nor can it be compared to other small farms, because it also offers social, ecological and economic bottom lines.

By Elizabeth Royte

The New York Times 2009-07-01

Urban farmer wins 'genius grant' for push to make fresh food affordable

MacArthur Foundation/youtube

Will Allen uses aquaculture and vermiculture, and heats greenhouses with composting.

Urban farmer in Milwaukee wins $500,000 MacArthur 'genius grant' (click 'See also) for developing farming methods and educational programs designed to provide healthy food to everyone. His nonprofit, Growing Power (www.growingpower.org), just expanded its program of selling bags of fruit and vegetables for $14 -- a week's worth for a family of four.

By Lee Bergquist

Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI) 2008-09-22

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Opinion: Healing garden:

Near the site of a murder that ripped a North Carolina town apart, the Anathoth Community Garden now grows, the gift of a black woman to a white church, and now the working poor find food at their door, and the town is finding a new peace.

By Fred Bahnson

Orion Magazine 2007-07-01

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Obituaries

Obituary: Rose Gray, founder, chef at London's River Cafe

By William Grimes

The New York Times 2010-03-02

Obituary: Norman Borlaug

Norman Borlaug, self-described 'corn-fed, country-bred Iowa boy,' who won Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for efforts to feed world's hungry, dies at 95. Agricultural scientist also spoke out for equitable distribution of world's food, about threat of unchecked population growth. He supported using agricultural biotechnology, frequently criticizing environmentalists. And: His later years (click 'See also') were partly occupied by arguments over social, environmental consequences of his 'Green Revolution.' Critics said it displaced smaller farmers, encouraged over-reliance on chemicals and paved way for greater corporate control of agriculture.

By Jerry Perkins

The Des Moines Register 2009-09-13

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Obituary: Sheila Lukins

Workman

Sheila Lukins, who brought big, sophisticated flavors from accessible ingredients to home cooks, dies at 66. She was co-author with Julee Roso of 'The Silver Palate Cookbook,' and author of others, as well as longtime food editor at Parade magazine. And: Breakfast strata, with bold delicacy of prosciutto, arugula and pesto, was example of her talent; she liberated us from single cuisine (click 'See also').

By Julia Moskin

The New York Times 2009-08-31

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Producers

Agribusiness chief urges industry to cut supply-chain waste to shrink food shortages, meet global demand

By Doug Cameron

Dow Jones Newswire; CNNmoney.com 2010-01-27

Food magnate escapes injury in Mumbai terrorism

Sir Gulam Noon, known as the 'Curry King' for his Indian ready meal business in UK, escapes harm during terrorism at Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai. Businessman was rescued by crane after his hotel window was pushed out by emergency workers.

By Paul Lewis

The Guardian (UK) 2008-11-27

Head of meat safety leaves USDA after three years

Richard Raymond, USDA's top meat/poultry safety official, steps down. As first physician in post, he brought new attention to public health, but often was frustrated with antiquated statute and politics that stymied change, says previous officeholder. He is credited with decreasing rates of salmonella, but his tenure also was marked by massive recalls.

By Annys Shin

The Washington Post 2008-09-27

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